azure-pipelines-generator_skill

Overview

This skill generates production-ready Azure DevOps pipeline YAML that follow current standards, security guidelines, and naming conventions. It produces CI, CD, Docker, Kubernetes, language-specific, and template-based pipelines and validates every output using the azure-pipelines-validator to ensure syntax and best-practice compliance.

How this skill works

The skill asks for project details (language, triggers, environments, registries, and target platforms), then selects appropriate tasks, VM images, caching, and artifact strategies. It constructs YAML with pinned task versions, explicit displayName fields, sensible timeouts, and stage/job hierarchy, and always runs validation; if validation fails it iterates until the pipeline is compliant.

When to use it

• Creating a new CI pipeline for a repository
• Building a full multi-stage CI/CD workflow for multiple environments
• Adding Docker image build and push steps to CI
• Deploying to Kubernetes or AKS with manifest or Helm flows
• Converting repeated steps into reusable pipeline templates

Best practices

• Pin vmImage versions (avoid 'latest') and pin task major versions (e.g., @2)
• Use displayName for stages, jobs, and key steps to improve readability
• Implement cache tasks for package managers and Go modules to speed builds
• Publish test results and use conditions like succeededOrFailed() appropriately
• Validate every generated YAML with the azure-pipelines-validator and fix issues before merging

Example use cases

• Generate a Node.js CI pipeline with npm caching, build, test, and test result publishing
• Create a multi-stage pipeline: Build → Test → Deploy with artifact promotion between stages
• Build and push Docker images to ACR with image tagging (BuildId and latest) and optional security scan
• Deploy a containerized app to AKS using KubernetesManifest or Helm with rollout and health checks
• Create reusable templates for common build steps and reference them from a main pipeline